St. Rose Church - 1988                       St. Joseph's School - 2246

A Brief History

Missionaries first came to this part of Allen County in the early 1800s.  Father Stephen Badin, one of the first pioneer priests ordained in the original thirteen colonies, visited the present site of Monroeville in 1831.  Later Rev.  Julius Benoit, rector of the Cathedral in Fort Wayne, came to Monroeville to celebrate Mass in the homes of local settlers.

St. Rose parish was truly formed, however, when land was purchased to build a church in 1868.  It was Fr. E. P. Walters who erected a wood frame church and named it in honor of St. Rose of Lima.  St. Rose was the first native-born saint of the New World, born in Lima, Peru in South America.

The wood frame church served as a mission church until it was destroyed by fire in October 1887. Only the bell and stations were saved as plans immediately were drawn up for a new church. The cornerstone was put in place on July 1, 1888 by Bishop Joseph Dwenger. The new church, 35 x 95 feet and at the cost of $9,500, was dedicated on May 12, 1889.   A special train, fifteen coaches in all, was packed with on-lookers who made the trip from Fort Wayne for the event.  St. Rose church was a beautiful site, a graceful Gothic brick building that seats about 240, with a steeple that reaches 102 feet above the town.

Over the years Monroeville has been blessed with many pastors. Following Rev. Benoit, Father August Besseoines came in 1840. Other priests from the Cathedral attended St. Rose until 1846. When Monroeville became a mission it was attend by several other missionary priests. In 1884 Rev. H.T. Wilken and Rev. B. Hartmann came here from Arcola to say mass. Rev.  John Grogan became the first appointed resident pastor here in 1884.  Rev.  John Hoss followed (1884-87).  Rev.  B. Hartmann was the parish priest from 1887 to 1892, during the time the present church was built. Many pastors have came in and out of Monroeville each with his edition to the parish. Currently, Fr. Babasino Fernandes is administrator. The parish register lists 311 families. 

The first school was constructed in 1898 and the present school building, remodeled several times, was built in 1911 at a cost of $18,000.  The School Sisters of St. Francis came to staff the school when it opened in 1912.  They continued until 1972 and since that time the school staff has been entirely lay persons.  An extensive remodeling was completed in the summer of 1998.  Our school enrollment is 92 student  in grades K-8.

Today, St. Rose de Lima in Monroeville continues to be a strong community family, with a wonderful sense of stability, unique in the fact that three or four generations attend church together.  Since the early stages of development in Monroeville, the pioneer spirit has weaved the basic fabric of the American way of life -  freedom of worship.